How to catch, tame, and feed a wild ferret
The wild ferret is a true predator among small animals. In agriculture, this fast and flexible animal is considered a pest, as it often carries chickens and eggs. It is not so easy to catch such an animal.
Wild ferret
Ferrets are highly intelligent and physically capable. A predator can easily sniff out human scent on a trap. If the goal of capture is to tame the ferret, then the task is further complicated by the choice of a trap that is safe for the animal. Also, wild ferrets, even under the age of five, will never become as pets as ferrets.
Wild ferret description
Before you catch a ferret, you should decide on the breed. The body size of these predators depends on the species, so before preparing the trap, you need to make sure that the ferret breed is correct.
Many people mistakenly call all species of weasel ferrets, but this family, in addition to ferrets, also includes ermines and weasels. But these breeds can be easily distinguished from each other by looking at the photos in the animal atlas.
There are several breeds of wild ferrets that are ubiquitous:
- Steppe ferret. The largest species among other breeds: the body length of the male can reach 60 cm, and the weight is 0.5 kg. The color of steppe ferrets is predominantly brown, with dark tan markings on the belly and legs. Animals settle in the field.
- Wood ferret. This type of predator is considered the most popular in the countries of Eurasia. Ferrets are slightly smaller than their steppe counterparts, their color is rather variegated. The coat is predominantly brown, darkening is observed to the belly and paws. The hair on the muzzle is white. The animals are characterized by a kind of black mask, by which the predator can be easily recognized in the photo.
- Black-footed ferret. This animal lives on the American continent. Due to hunting, the population of black-footed ferrets has seriously decreased, so the animal is listed in the Red Book. Today it is rarely found in the wild, and it is forbidden to catch these predators.
If the breed of an animal cannot be determined, the standard dimensions of the largest species should be taken into account. A particular feature of the ferret's behavior is the struggle for territory. These predators value their burrow very much and rarely change their place of residence. Ferrets also have a rather weak nervous system, so great care should be taken when capturing: from stress, the animal can have a heart attack.
A variety of ferret traps
Ferret traps also differ in their mechanism of action and largely depend on the ultimate target of the capture. Many of the proposed trap types are not suitable for catching a ferret for taming purposes. Traps like these can seriously injure the animal.
Experienced farmers usually use methods that are aimed at exterminating the predator. Ferrets, along with foxes, are considered pests in agriculture.They carry rabbits, geese and chickens, destroy chicks and eggs, so poultry and rabbit breeders use traps with poisoned bait.
For hunters, the value is primarily the fur of the animal, so their methods of capture are often fatal for the ferret. For this, powerful traps are used, which almost immediately kill the predator without harming the wool.
Traps for safe catching of the animal
There are several types of traps that will allow you to catch your ferret alive. Some are offered in specialty stores, but most can be made by yourself.
In addition to the trap itself, you will need the following list of items to capture a wild predator:
- gloves made of thick fabric;
- tarpaulin or camouflage clothing;
- meat as bait;
- infusion of wormwood.
Overalls are needed to protect against sharp teeth and claws of the animal. Ferrets always resist a person when caught and can bite heavily through the skin. The bait is most often killed mice or chicks that predators feed on.
These animals react actively to the strong smell of blood. Wormwood should be used to treat the trap to repel human odor.
Universal homemade ferret trap
For this trap, you need a regular cage with strong rods. Wood is better as a material, since metal can scare an animal away. The door must be lowered vertically when closing. On the upper beams or branches in the forest, a mechanism resembling a balance is fixed. A door is tied to one side of the lever, and a bait is hung on the other end in the center of the trap. As soon as the ferret unhooks the meat from the rope, the cage will close.
In this way, animals are caught on farms, in chicken coops and barns. A similar design can be used in the forest, but the smell of meat can attract other predators.
Ferret trap in winter
This type of trap is notable for the fact that it does not require any material costs. It is popular in cold countries. The method for making the trap is very simple.
Water is poured into a five-liter bucket and left to freeze overnight. By morning, ice is taken out of the bucket and a ferret-sized hole is drilled in the center. The tunnel should not be through.
The trap is installed on the street with the hole up. This is to prevent the ferret from digging a way out for itself. Meat is placed in the center of the ice trap, after which the animal crawls inside, but cannot get out.
The downside of this trap is that the ferret can suffocate from panic attacks or freeze to death if it stays in such a cage for too long.
Taming methods
Domesticating a wild ferret is not easy. Predators caught in natural habitats will not fully trust a person even after several years. Offspring of wild ferrets born in captivity will be less susceptible to training, but to get cubs, you need to provide a couple of animals with favorable conditions for mating.
The credulity of these predators is largely dependent on age. If a ferret is 1.5-2 months old, then over time it can get used to a person, but it will not become a complete pet. A ferret over 5 years old is not tame at all and shows aggression towards people. Such animals are very difficult to train, as the ferret's heart can simply burst from constant stress.
At home, a wild animal needs to be provided with a home for life, similar to natural habitats. Also, an untamed ferret should be kept in a closed enclosure, since the animal can show a high level of aggression from fear. The predator cage should be multi-tiered, with a pipe system that mimics underground norms. Ferrets naturally move a lot, so too cramped housing can cause prolonged stress. You can make such a cage yourself, for this you should watch training videos or photos on the Internet.
It is extremely important to exclude possible noises and strong odors: animals born in the wild are extremely sensitive to this.
Ferrets recover after transfer for about 2 months. All this time, the animals should be provided with rest. Initially, the animal will be hiding in a shelter or corner, will not eat and will loudly gnaw the cage net at night. Over time, the animal will get used to the new conditions of detention and the human presence. It is also important to stay close to the predator while it feeds. In this case, the pet will begin to recognize the owner's smell and associate it with food.
The animal should be given a name and constantly refer to it during feeding: this way the ferret will quickly get used to and get used to human speech. You do not need to feed a wild predator from your hands in the first months: it can easily scratch or bite the skin.
The domestication process takes about a year and requires a lot of effort, but a tamed wild ferret will still not become a domestic ferret and will retain its independent character.
Daily ration
Special attention should be paid to menu design. Feeding domestic ferrets and wild ferrets is not very different. These predators prefer mainly protein foods.
The only difference in the nutrition of these animals from that inherent in domestic ferrets is the minimum amount of cereals or vegetables in the diet. It is undesirable to feed the wild ferret with such mixtures, since their stomachs do not tolerate cereals well.
Ferrets are forbidden to give pastries and sweets: in large quantities, these products are deadly for the animal.
You should also buy vitamin and mineral supplements in specialized stores: without them, ferrets may have problems with their teeth and hair.
In general, the daily diet of an adult looks like this:
- fresh beef or veal - 50 g per day;
- forage mice, poultry chicks or fresh chicken meat - 70 g per day;
- fresh fish - 40 g per day;
- finely chopped vegetables - 5 g per day;
- cereals - no more than 10 g per day;
- bone meal - a couple of grams per day.
Ferret meat should be finely chopped. It is advisable to mix several types of meat in one feeding.
You should also pay attention to the predator's drinker. Water for wild animals should be settled or boiled. You should not give the animal water from the tap: ferrets do not tolerate the presence of bleach in the liquid.
Conclusion
Capturing a wild ferret in natural habitat is not particularly difficult, but taming an adult is not easy. In the first month, the animal must get used to the new habitat and feeding regime.
A balanced diet will contribute to the early adaptation of the animal to new living conditions. Wild ferrets must undergo a veterinary examination and vaccination, as they can be carriers of serious diseases.